Applying
The founding principle of the PSDP was to train pediatricians as scientists. Much as we devote many years to uninterrupted training as a component of our clinical development, the PSDP encourages candidates to seek two years of uninterrupted time for research training. The PSDP stipulates that candidates proposing basic research projects will have no clinical responsibilities or patient care in years one and two of PSDP training, and that this stipulation will have the assent of the sponsoring chair and clinical fellowship program director.
In keeping with the growing emphasis on patient-oriented or translational research, candidates who propose projects that require patient contact (not patient care) will have the opportunity to request patient contact time as part of their initial PSDP application.
- For most candidates, the application will be due on February 1 of the PL-3 year.
- Candidates who are fast-tracking in pediatrics should identify themselves in the fall of the PL-2 year.
- Subspecialty programs such as cardiology, critical care, emergency medicine, and neonatology may be extending their clinical requirements to 18-24 months. Thus, some applicants in those disciplines will not be able to complete their clinical requirements in 12 months, prior to entering the period of PSDP-supported research. Candidates whose disciplines require 13-24 months of clinical responsibilities and patient care may apply to the PSDP by February 1 of their first fellowship year. The section chief and department chair of the sponsoring department must guarantee in writing that those 17 months will be spent to complete clinical requirements or other departmental responsibilities, prior to the start of PSDP-supported research.
All PSDP trainees should begin their protected research time on July 1, 17 months after submission of the application.
